Within his recently unveiled autobiography, named Ithaki, the former leader Tsipras spares no criticism as he reflects on that turbulent era during Greece's financial crisis.
A Controversial Choice
As per Tsipras's version, he appointed that unorthodox economist Yanis Varoufakis to be his treasury head mainly due to the latter's global profile along with his “extremely attractive” skills when it came to communicator.
“He was, truthfully, more like a personality and less of an economist,” recalled the 51-year-old.
Clashing Agendas
Tsipras suggests how his finance chief possessed a personal motives which included promoting Varoufakis's books as well as experimenting with his own economic models on Greece rather than truly fighting for its economic stability.
He wrote how those talks to stave off bankruptcy became “not only a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, an historic chance to prove the truth of his economic theories.”
High-Stakes Talks
Amid tense discussions, Greece came dangerously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.
At stake lay not only Greece's destiny and the punishing austerity policies demanded in exchange for financial aid from international creditors.
Failed Alternatives
Efforts to find funds elsewhere, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.
Assisting Greece would be equivalent to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly informed Tsipras during their meeting.
Public Vote and Reversal
In July 2015, those harsh conditions were put to a public vote, a move that threw the EU into further existential crisis.
Although the vote was carried resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, Tsipras was forced but to reject its outcome and agree to a rescue deal from foreign lenders which proved to be even harsher.
Breaking Point
Tsipras claimed that he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.
“He was the face of the talks, the figure who attracted publicity, who graced the front pages of publications the world over … he gave the impression he relished his new role.”
After Varoufakis outlined a backup strategy that included creating a parallel currency and distributing vouchers to retirees, the leader said he realised it was the end and asked him: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Criticism
In the book, Tsipras asserts that Varoufakis had proved himself “unfit for a deal that required intricate and delicate management.”
He also claimed that Varoufakis's confrontational approach left him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, while assisted hardliners that were pushing for Grexit.
The account of history has provoked fury along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, while Varoufakis has kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
